Disneyland Resort Paris launches Space Mountain: Mission 2
Blast off towards the far reaches of the universe on 9 April 2005
Disneyland Resort Paris will launch Space Mountain: Mission 2 on 9 April this year. The main attraction in Europe’s foremost tourist destination is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is set to pursue its saga with a second adventure. The attraction is being completely reprogrammed to provide visitors with a totally new experience, where “exploronauts” will find themselves speeding well beyond the moon towards the far reaches of the universe…
In 2005, Disney Theme Parks around the globe will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland, California. This very special event will see a host of new attractions and shows launched throughout the world. Space Mountain: Mission 2 forms a part of this celebration, as well as Wishes, an all-new fireworks spectacular that is set to enchant Disneyland Resort Paris guests from 16 July to August 28 2005,
Space Mountain is one of the most popular and exciting attractions in the entire Resort. Inspired by Jules Verne’s visionary novel, From the Earth to the Moon, written in 1865, the attraction’s Columbiad cannon has blasted millions of space travelling guests towards the moon since Junes, 1995.
As of 9 April, 2005, “exploronauts” will embark on a new, fantastic and unforgettable voyage to the far reaches of the universe. The Columbiad cannon imagined by Jules Verne will be recalibrated. The spacecraft will now be catapulted from the lower part of the cannon where, thanks to the extraordinary energy of this breathtaking launch and constant acceleration, adventurers will reach outer space almost immediately following a brief moment of near weightlessness.
Their mission will be to explore the farthest reaches of space, to go where no one has gone before and discover the mysteries at the edge of the universe. Along the way, they will encounter an asteroid belt, comets and a magnificent supernova. These thrilling adventures will deflect the frenzied route of the spacecraft, resulting in unexpected twists, turns, spins and loops, all accompanied by a soundtrack that could be straight out of a major science-fiction film.
Backstage in Space Mountain: Mission 2
One of the most important modifications concerns the launch, which will take place from the lower part of the cannon. As a result, the length of the launch phase will be increased by nearly 40%. The initial acceleration will reach a speed of around 14 m/s and passengers will experience a G-force of nearly 1.3 N.
The attraction itself will see guests catapulted into outer space, where they will find themselves confronted with a series of cosmic phenomena that will cause the spacecraft to rapidly change direction as their space vehicle takes evasive measures. The daredevil passengers will only just escape a spectacular supernova – a cataclysmic explosion of a giant star that, for a moment, shines brighter than an entire galaxy – before they return to earth after travelling through a luminous “vortex”.
Music
It goes without saying that music will play an integral part of the Space Mountain: Mission 2 experience. Michael Giacchino, the world famous composer whose scores notably include the music to the Disney/Pixar movie The Incredibles and the American television series Alias, has created the sonic background that will accompany passengers along their journey. Completely synchronised to the “story”, the music will be an essential part of this new mission, accentuating all the special effects and, in particular, reinforcing the dramatic nature of the situation when the spacecraft is confronted with the supernova explosion. Michael Giacchino has worked diligently to ensure that the music follows the scenario and visual effects as closely as possible, plunging guests even further into the heart of this breathtaking adventure.
The Space Mountain vehicles will undergo modifications for Space Mountain : Mission 2. Like the “Soundtracker” vehicles on the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith attraction in Walt Disney Studios Park, all seats will be equipped with five loudspeakers, one on each side of the head, two around the hips and one on foot level, to offer an optimal aural experience.
As well as the loudspeakers built into the seats, a highly specialised team will install a large number of other speakers in the attraction’s structure to further emphasise the various sound effects.
Visual effects
Unlike Space Mountain - where the trip takes place in the dark - Space Mountain: Mission 2 is based on the extensive use of visual effects. In addition to the large amount of lighting effects used to develop the story, Disney’s Imagineers have added projections of star fields to give visitors the immediate impression of being in space, as well as new projections of comets and meteors and the supernova explosion.
Pre-launch
While waiting to board Space Mountain, guests were provided with glimpses of the attraction through a number of openings. For this new mission, which goes far further and deeper into space, the decision was taken that the part of the attraction leading to the boarding platform would be enclosed. Waiting passengers will be able to admire a large number of photos showing the various phenomena to be found in the universe, such as quasars, novas and comets, and through this exhibition, prepare themselves for their future close encounter.
Blast off towards the far reaches of the universe on 9 April 2005
Disneyland Resort Paris will launch Space Mountain: Mission 2 on 9 April this year. The main attraction in Europe’s foremost tourist destination is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is set to pursue its saga with a second adventure. The attraction is being completely reprogrammed to provide visitors with a totally new experience, where “exploronauts” will find themselves speeding well beyond the moon towards the far reaches of the universe…
In 2005, Disney Theme Parks around the globe will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland, California. This very special event will see a host of new attractions and shows launched throughout the world. Space Mountain: Mission 2 forms a part of this celebration, as well as Wishes, an all-new fireworks spectacular that is set to enchant Disneyland Resort Paris guests from 16 July to August 28 2005,
Space Mountain is one of the most popular and exciting attractions in the entire Resort. Inspired by Jules Verne’s visionary novel, From the Earth to the Moon, written in 1865, the attraction’s Columbiad cannon has blasted millions of space travelling guests towards the moon since Junes, 1995.
As of 9 April, 2005, “exploronauts” will embark on a new, fantastic and unforgettable voyage to the far reaches of the universe. The Columbiad cannon imagined by Jules Verne will be recalibrated. The spacecraft will now be catapulted from the lower part of the cannon where, thanks to the extraordinary energy of this breathtaking launch and constant acceleration, adventurers will reach outer space almost immediately following a brief moment of near weightlessness.
Their mission will be to explore the farthest reaches of space, to go where no one has gone before and discover the mysteries at the edge of the universe. Along the way, they will encounter an asteroid belt, comets and a magnificent supernova. These thrilling adventures will deflect the frenzied route of the spacecraft, resulting in unexpected twists, turns, spins and loops, all accompanied by a soundtrack that could be straight out of a major science-fiction film.
Backstage in Space Mountain: Mission 2
One of the most important modifications concerns the launch, which will take place from the lower part of the cannon. As a result, the length of the launch phase will be increased by nearly 40%. The initial acceleration will reach a speed of around 14 m/s and passengers will experience a G-force of nearly 1.3 N.
The attraction itself will see guests catapulted into outer space, where they will find themselves confronted with a series of cosmic phenomena that will cause the spacecraft to rapidly change direction as their space vehicle takes evasive measures. The daredevil passengers will only just escape a spectacular supernova – a cataclysmic explosion of a giant star that, for a moment, shines brighter than an entire galaxy – before they return to earth after travelling through a luminous “vortex”.
Music
It goes without saying that music will play an integral part of the Space Mountain: Mission 2 experience. Michael Giacchino, the world famous composer whose scores notably include the music to the Disney/Pixar movie The Incredibles and the American television series Alias, has created the sonic background that will accompany passengers along their journey. Completely synchronised to the “story”, the music will be an essential part of this new mission, accentuating all the special effects and, in particular, reinforcing the dramatic nature of the situation when the spacecraft is confronted with the supernova explosion. Michael Giacchino has worked diligently to ensure that the music follows the scenario and visual effects as closely as possible, plunging guests even further into the heart of this breathtaking adventure.
The Space Mountain vehicles will undergo modifications for Space Mountain : Mission 2. Like the “Soundtracker” vehicles on the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith attraction in Walt Disney Studios Park, all seats will be equipped with five loudspeakers, one on each side of the head, two around the hips and one on foot level, to offer an optimal aural experience.
As well as the loudspeakers built into the seats, a highly specialised team will install a large number of other speakers in the attraction’s structure to further emphasise the various sound effects.
Visual effects
Unlike Space Mountain - where the trip takes place in the dark - Space Mountain: Mission 2 is based on the extensive use of visual effects. In addition to the large amount of lighting effects used to develop the story, Disney’s Imagineers have added projections of star fields to give visitors the immediate impression of being in space, as well as new projections of comets and meteors and the supernova explosion.
Pre-launch
While waiting to board Space Mountain, guests were provided with glimpses of the attraction through a number of openings. For this new mission, which goes far further and deeper into space, the decision was taken that the part of the attraction leading to the boarding platform would be enclosed. Waiting passengers will be able to admire a large number of photos showing the various phenomena to be found in the universe, such as quasars, novas and comets, and through this exhibition, prepare themselves for their future close encounter.